The Invasion of the Tearling

“My skills aren’t compromised,” the younger guard insisted. “It’s a nuisance, not a problem.”


The Mace remained silent for a long moment, and when he spoke again, Aisa was surprised to hear that his voice had softened. “You may think you’re the first one this has ever happened to, but I assure you that this is an old problem for close guards. I understand it well, believe me. I’m not sure that it doesn’t actually make you a better guard. You’d throw yourself in front of the knife without a thought, no?”

“Yes,” the younger man replied bleakly, and Aisa finally identified him: Pen Alcott. She crouched lower, trying to remember the rest of the conversation, to puzzle it out.

“What of that woman you’ve found?” the Mace asked. “Does she offer no relief at all?”

Pen laughed without humor. “Ten minutes of relief, every time.”

“We can find another shield, you know,” the Mace told him. “Several of them are ready. Elston would jump at the chance.”

“No. It would be a greater torment to be out of the room than in.”

“You say that now, but think, Pen. Think about when she takes a husband, or even just a man for the night. How will you feel then, being right outside the door?”

“She may not take either.”

“She will,” the Mace replied firmly. “She has her mother’s recklessness, and her mind grows older by the day. It won’t be long before she finds that outlet.”

Pen was silent for a long moment. “I don’t want to be replaced. Partial or no, I’m the best man for the job, and you know it.”

“All right.” The Mace’s voice lost its gentle edge and became iron-hard as he continued. “But mark me: I’ll be watching. And if I see one sign of impaired performance, you’re done, not just with your post but with this Guard. Do you understand?”

Silence. The pile of straw men began to collapse behind Aisa’s back, and she dug her heels into the floor, clutching her book, trying to keep the entire mountain from shifting down in an avalanche.

“I understand,” Pen replied stiffly. “I’m sorry to put you in this position.”

“Christ, Pen, we’ve all been there. You won’t find a man in her mother’s Guard who didn’t go through this at one point or another. It’s an old problem. A difficult thing.”

Aisa was losing ground. She pushed hard with her legs, pressing back against the corner, holding the pile of straw men in place. If they would only leave!

“Better get about it now. She’ll wake in a few hours.”

“Yes, sir.”

Footsteps retreated toward the door.

“Pen?”

“Sir?”

“You’re doing a good job. She doesn’t mind having you a foot away, I can tell, and that’s really a remarkable accomplishment. I’m not sure she wouldn’t have killed anyone else by now.”

Pen didn’t reply. A moment later, Aisa heard the door open and close. She relaxed and felt one of the straw men topple to the ground on her right.

“And you, hellcat?”

Aisa gave a small shriek. The Mace loomed over her, his hands clenched on the table edge. Despite her fright, Aisa couldn’t help staring at those hands, which were covered in scars. Venner and Fell had told her that the Mace was a great fighter, one of the greatest in the Tear. To have hands like that, he must have been battling for a lifetime.

That’s what I want to be, Aisa realized, staring fixedly at the three white scars across one knuckle. That dangerous. That feared.

“I’ve heard of your nightly wanderings, girl. Venner and Fell tell me you’ve a great gift for the knife.”

Aisa nodded, her face flushing slightly with pleasure.

“Do you come here every night?”

“Almost. I wish I could sleep in here.”

The Mace was not distracted. “You’ve heard something you shouldn’t. Something that could be very dangerous to the Queen.”

“Why?”

“Don’t play foolish with me. I’ve watched you, you’re a quick little thing.”

Aisa’s paused for a moment. “I am quick. But I won’t tell anyone what I heard.”

“You’re not an easy child.” The Mace looked closely at her, and Aisa shrank back. His eyes were terrible things, invasive, as though he were turning her inside out with his gaze. “What do you mean to do with your knife one day? If you’re as gifted as Venner and Fell claim?”

“I’ll be a Queen’s Guard,” Aisa replied promptly. She had decided this three days ago, at the very moment she had snuck under Fell’s guard and dimpled his jugular with her knife.

“Why?”